Customer Reviews

McHale's Navy - Season One

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Join Lt. Cmndr Quinton McHale and his fun-lovin' squadron of rule-bending goof-offs and gamblers aboard the PT 73 on its award-nominated maiden voyage of 36 episodes in the 45th anniversary release of McHale's Navy - Season One!

Starring the unsinkable talents of Ernest Borgnine (a real-life navy veteran) as skipper McHale, Tim Conway (The Carol Burnett Show) as klutzy Ensign Parker, Carl Ballantine as con man Lester Gruber, Joe Flynn (The Rescuers) as blustery, fun-spoiling Capt. Binghamton, and Bob Hastings as his jittery aide Lt. Carpenter, McHale's Navy is one of television's longer-lasting military comedies (and a classic B&W sitcom favorite of mine), with 138 episodes aired over four seasons (1962-1966).

Digitally restored and remastered by Shout! Factory, McHale's Navy - Season One is a 5-disc (930 min.) set featuring all 36 episodes in Full Frame (1.33:1) video and English mono, plus the following Special Feature: "The Crew Remembers": Shout! Factory hosts a very special 45th anniversary reunion of the crew, including stars Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Carl Ballantine, Edson Stroll and Bob Hastings. Here are how the discs will be configured, plus original airdates:

Disc 1:
"An Ensign For McHale" (10/11/1962)
"A Purple Heart For Gruber" (10/18/1962)
"McHale And His Seven Cupids" (10/25/1962)
"PT 73, Where Are You?" (11/1/1962)
"Movies Are Your Best Diversion" (11/8/1962)
"Operation Wedding Party" (11/15/1962)
"Who Do The Voodoo?" (11/22/1962)

Disc 2:
"Three Girls On An Island" (11/29/1962)
"McHale's Paradise Motel" (12/6/1962)
"The Battle Of McHale's Island" (12/20/1962)
"The Day They Captured Santa Claus" (12/27/1962)
"Beauty And The Beast" (1/3/1963)
"The Captain's Mission" (1/10/1963)
"Send Us A Hero" (1/17/1963)

Disc 3:
"The Captain Steals A Cook" (1/24/1963)
"The Ensign Gets A Zero" (1/31/1963)
"The Big Raffle" (2/7/1963)
"One Of Our Engines Is Missing" (2/14/1963)
"The Natives Get Restless" (2/21/1963)
"The Confidence Game" (2/28/1963)
"Six Pounds From Paradise" (3/7/1963)

Disc 4:
"Washing Machine Charlie" (3/14/1963)
"Nippon Nancy Calling" (3/21/1963)
"One Enchanted Weekend" (3/28/1963)
"The Mothers Of PT 73" (4/4/1963)
"H.M.S. 73" (4/11/1963)
"A Wreath For McHale" (4/18/1963)
"Portrait Of A Peerless Leader" (4/25/1963)
"Instant Democracy" (5/2/1963)

Disc 5:
"Camera, Action, Panic" (5/9/1963)
"Alias Captain Binghamton" (5/16/1963)
"Parents Anonymous" (5/23/1963)
"McHale's Millions" (5/30/1963)
"The Hillbillies Of PT 73" (6/6/1963)
"The Monster Of McHale's Island" (6/13/1963)
"Uncle Admiral" (6/27/1963)


McHale's Navy - Season One
March 20th!

For those of you who only think of the painfully bad Tom Arnold movie when you hear the name, "McHale's Navy" was much funnier on TV. Led by Lt. Commander Quentin McHale (Ernest Borgnine), the crew of the PT-73 were a little less than by the book. And remember, this was before political correctness.

They had their own POW/cook. They lied, cheated, stole, gambled, womanized... and these were the good guys. Joe Flynn was great as the straight-laced Captain Wallace Binghampton. While always foiled in his plans to catch McHale with his hand in the cookie jar, Binghampton suffered an incompetent aide (Bob Hastings) and the constant bumbling of Ensign Charles Parker (Tim Conway).

Now for the good news: Since there seems to be some question about it, I contacted Shout Factory directly. Because had this been the poorly colorized version, it would never get to my DVD shelf. So I asked, and they answered... "The series will be in the original black and white format. We will have a bonus episode that will be in color."

There you have it. The original episodes in the original black and white. Let's hope we get the entire series and their two 1960's movies, "McHale's Navy" and "McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force".

I purchased this Tuesday the 20th as it came out. I'd had some concerns because I had read an uncomplimentary review last week where it was said the transfers were terrible.This could not be further from the truth as these are every bit as good as the year they came out on television, 1962. I think the problem with reviewers under the age of thirty is that they are spoiled and have been special effected to death and do not know the charm of the real deal when they see it. This is an excellent production and very watchable and as I understand completly re edited to 100% of each episode. If you grew up on this as I did and have been missing seeing them in syndication for what seems like forever, cheer up, this is a great purchase.

McHale's Navy was a classic piece of Television. Done in 1962-1963, this first season showed the comedy like Operation Peticoat did for the movies.

Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine is Quinton McHale. Tim Conway (Pre-Carol Burnett or Disney movies) was the bumbling Charles Parker. Joe Flynn showcased what he did later for Disney films and embodied Captain Binghamton. The supporting cast included Gavin McLeod (long before the Love Boat), Magician Carl Ballingtine and Bob Hastings (Gordon on Batman the Animated Seroes)

When this classic comedy works, the laughes are freeflowing..and it works many many times over. Over 36 episodes, done in glorous Black & White, the DVD collection is total enjoyable

M*A*S*H was a great show which was a combo of comedy and drama. This show took the drama out of the war and just made you laugh..and its what comedy is meant to

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

this is a good looking set, but there's no captions or subtitles. we bought this because Amazon expressly stated in their specifications that this set had closed captions. we have a hearing impaired member of our family who loved this show in the sixties and was very disappointed to find out this set did not have captions so he could understand what the characters are saying. big boo to Shout for no captions and a big boo to Amazon for erroneously stating this set had closed captions.

McHale's Navy follows in the footsteps of Sgt. Bilko - 50th Anniversary Edition (The Phil Silvers Show). Week after week this manic comedy pitted Cmdr. McHale's (Ernest Borgnine) band of goofballs against Capt. Binghamton, while fighting the Japanese forces in the South Pacific during WWII.

The show if I'm not mistaken was originally filmed in B&W. Although I have seen bad colourised versions of some episodes. Let us hope this 5-DVD 'colour' set of the first season which aired from October 1962 - June 1963) is not the case. Here's a breakdown of the episodes included in this set:

Episode 1: An Ensign for McHale
Episode 2: A Purple Heart for Gruber
Episode 3: McHale and His Seven Cupids
Episode 4: PT 73 Where Are You?
Episode 5: Movies Are Your Best Diversion
Episode 6: Operation Wedding Party
Episode 7: Who Do the Voodoo
Episode 8: Three Girls on an Island
Episode 9: McHale's Paradise Hotel
Episode 10: The Battle of McHale's Island
Episode 11: The Day They Captured Santa
Episode 12: Beauty and the Beast
Episode 13: The Captain's Mission
Episode 14: Send Us a Hero
Episode 15: The Captain Steals a Cook
Episode 16: The Ensign Gets a Zero
Episode 17: The Big Raffle
Episode 18: One of Our Engines Is Missing
Episode 19: The Natives Get Restless
Episode 20: The Confidence Game
Episode 21: Six Pounds from Paradise
Episode 22: Washing Machine Charlie
Episode 23: Nippon Nancy Calling
Episode 24: One Enchanted Weekend
Episode 25: The Mothers of PT-73
Episode 26: HMS 73
Episode 27: A Wreath for McHale
Episode 28: Portrait of a Peerless Leader
Episode 29: Instant Democracy
Episode 30: Camera, Action, Panic
Episode 31: Alias Captain Binghamton
Episode 32: Parents Anonymous
Episode 33: McHale's Millions
Episode 34: The Hillbillies of PT-73
Episode 35: The Monster of McHale's Island
Episode 36: Uncle Admiral

I loved the show as a kid (when it aired 1962-1966) and never tired of the re-runs through the decades. Having not seen it for quite a long spell, I can't wait soon enough to slip the DVDs into the player. Tim Conway (as Ensign Parker) was a riot. Joe Flynn (as Capt. Binghampton) too. These two guys carried the show. I highly recommend it if you enjoy the military humour of Sgt. Bilko, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. - Season 1-3 or Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series. Great stuff!

I have hoped and prayed that McHale's Navy make it to DVD. After all, practially everything else can be bought on this format. I praise Shout Factory for giving this wonderful show the treatment it deserves. I also heard on the DVD some of the original cast members have been interviewed. This is brilliant. Too many times we see on TV shows on DVD, but none of the surviving cast members are interviewed. To me, this is a waste. I would love to know what went on behind the scenes, and what the actors feel towards the series.

McHale's Navy is one of the best situation comedies from the 60s. I cannot wait to buy my copy. Thank you Shout Factory for putting such a wonderful TV onto DVD.

Mchale's Navy was well written and consistently funny, but the cast is what really made it shine. A few years ago, while travelling in Italy, I happened across this show on television there, dubbed in Italian. Although not being able to understand a word of it, I watched all the way through because seeing those actors playing off each other so well was entertainment enough! This DVD set will be a welcome (and well-used) addition to my collection.

Watching this dvd reminds me and brings back lots of memories of 1960s T.V. Lt.Quinten Mchale,Ensign Parker, LeadBottom, Groober,they are all here. So take a trip down MEMORY LANE and enjoy this great series with the crew of PT 73.

When I look back to the early sixties, there comes to mind an extraordinary and well-written comedy called; McHale's Navy. This was a Man's T.V. show. Men can relate to this program in the same way of the Three Stooges. Ladies will need a little more time to get used to the comedy and the very witty predicaments of this classic comedy. I loved it as a boy and did not really understand all of the plots, but now I watch it with sheer delight. I love the way the Captain acts. "What, What, what!! and his now legendary injunction.." I could just scream!!" This was funny 40 years ago and it is still funny. This is a rare collector's item. I was waiting for years for the appearance of these DVDs. You will truly cherish and enjoy!

Noel Serrano